HBO's 'The Idol' is below hearth but once more for a Jeffrey Epstein joke that viewers known as 'completely sickening'

• HBO’s controversial present “The Idol” got here below hearth on Sunday for a Jeffrey Epstein joke. 
• A personality says, “I am fucking shitting extra blood than a child at Epstein’s island,” within the third episode.
• It refers back to the non-public island the place Epstein is believed to have abused younger ladies for many years. 

“The Idol” could also be shedding viewers, however it’s nonetheless producing loads of headlines. 

The controversial new HBO present, which was co-created by Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and “Euphoria” director Sam Levinson, got here below hearth as soon as once more on Sunday night time over a Jeffrey Epstein joke. 

The scene in episode three — written by Levinson and Tesfaye — reveals Andrew Finkelstein (Eli Roth) complaining to Chaim (Hank Azaria) about Jocelyn (Lily Rose-Depp), the struggling pop star they each rely on. 

Finkelstein, a Reside Nation consultant, questions why Jocelyn hasn’t canceled her upcoming stadium tour. He tells Chaim, Jocelyn’s supervisor, that she’s giving him irritable-bowel syndrome resulting from her lack of recent music and up to date dangerous press. 

“I am fucking shitting extra blood than a child at Epstein’s island,” he says. 

The road is in reference to Little St. James, the non-public island that Epstein owned for many years. Locals referred to it as “Pedophile Island,” and prosecutors stated the convicted intercourse offender trafficked and abused dozens of younger ladies on the island for years. Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 whereas awaiting trial on costs of intercourse trafficking minors. 

Some viewers of “The Idol” took to Twitter on Sunday night time to precise their disgust with the joke, with one individual calling it “completely sickening” and one other saying it was “probably the most disgusting factor [sic] I’ve ever heard on TV.” 

—elayne douglas 𝓭𝖆𝖗𝛋 𝖋𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖆ꚃ𝑦 𝓦𝖗𝖎𝖙𝓮𝖗 (@HEDouglas99) June 19, 2023

—RUBY 🕸🧷 (@venomousruby) June 19, 2023

—:)ammo (@dineroloamo) June 19, 2023

Controversy has adopted “The Idol” since March, when a bombshell Rolling Stone report revealed authentic director Amy Seimetz had been pushed out. Sources stated the present had became “torture porn” after Levinson and Tesfaye took over its artistic course.

Unhealthy evaluations adopted after the present premiered in Cannes final month. Selection’s Peter Debruge known as the sequence — which reveals Depp’s character falling below the spell of Tesfaye, who performs an abusive nightclub proprietor — a “sordid male fantasy.” 

“Levinson’s worldview appears corrupt,” Debruge wrote in his evaluate. “It should not take degradation and struggling to make Jocelyn stronger. ‘Euphoria’ audiences will not be too stunned by the shameful means he treats Depp’s character, as each she and the present seem trapped below The Weeknd’s thumb.”

Tesfaye defended “The Idol” after the second episode, which confirmed his character directing Jocelyn to carry out numerous intercourse acts, was blasted by each viewers and critics. 

“There’s nothing horny about it,” Tesfaye instructed GQ. “Nonetheless you are feeling watching that scene, whether or not it is discomfort, otherwise you really feel gross, otherwise you really feel embarrassed for the characters. It is all these feelings including as much as: this man is in means over his head, this example is one the place he isn’t imagined to be right here.” 

Tesfaye added of his character: “He is despicable, a psychopath — why sugar coat it?”